Ministries need volunteers to help with holiday meals

About 300 pounds of potatoes await storage Monday afternoon at Good News at Noon ministry on Davis Street. The shelter will cook some and give away the rest to needy families, Good News at Noon General Manager Mike Robinson said.

Not many places will be open Christmas Day, but the holiday is business as usual for Good News at Noon.

“It’s a normal day for us,” General Manager Mike Robinson said. For today, meals will be served at the regular hours of noon and 8 p.m. following a 7 p.m. service. Lunch will be served at noon on Christmas, but dinner will be at 6 p.m.

He’s expecting the “regular” crowd of about 100 for lunch and 50 or so for dinner, but he’s noticed an uptick over the past few days.

“They may surprise us for Christmas,” he said. “We may wind up with a full house for dinner.”

Robinson said there were more people than usual over the past few days, making him think there will be a full house for both lunch and dinner today and Wednesday. The ministry has about 100 plates they use to serve guests, but over the past few days they’ve had to bring in paper plates to meet the demand.

Anyone who wants to volunteer at Good News at Noon over the holiday is welcome; all they need to do is show up about 30 minutes before the meal.

Volunteers are also welcome to Gainesville Baptist Rescue Mission; they’ll be needed to help set up in the kitchen according to Director Ken Pullen.

“We usually need them around 11:30 (a.m.) or (noon),” Pullen said. “We serve at 1 p.m.”

The lunch is held following a noon chapel service. The mission usually serves about 30 people for Christmas dinner, Pullen said.

“My wife’s in the kitchen and I cook some,” he said. “I think the most we’ve ever had a few years ago was about 35. We cook two turkeys, a ham and all the other stuff that goes with it.”

He asked that people who wish to volunteer call ahead of time at the main number, 770-287-9700.